If we are unable to offer a fixed fee, we will provide you with our hourly rates, together with an estimate of the time it will take to complete the matter, in our client care letter.

All our fixed fee costs are plus VAT (currently 20%) and disbursements.

Disbursement are costs incurred during the process of the matter, which we pay on your behalf to third parties, i.e. Search fees and Land Registry fees.

The below estimates are for guidance purposes only, as each transaction varies.

Purchasing a Freehold or Leasehold Residential Property

Conveyancers fees and disbursements

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your property, including dealing with your mainstream mortgage, dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to purchase is in Wales.

Our fixed fees start from £995 plus VAT (currently 20%) and change depending on the price of the property you are buying (please see table below). In addition to our fees there are likely to be disbursements and these are explained below.

Please note all our fees are based on your matter being a standard transaction which proceeds in a timely matter; and that no unforeseen matters arise, including but not limited to a title defect or the preparation of additional or unforeseen documents; and where the property being purchased is leasehold, that it involves the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease or one that involves a lease extension.

Fee Scale

Our fees are based on the purchase price of the property:

Additional Fees

Disbursements

The fees involved are usually:

• HM Land Registry fees range between £20 and £1105. These will depend upon the value of the property and whether it is registered at the Land Registry or not.
• Search Fees for searches about the property such as local authority searches, drainage etc are generally in the region of £350 but we will give you an accurate figure on request of a quotation.
• Electronic Identity Search Fees - £18 plus VAT of £3.60 per person (if based in UK).
• Source of Funds check - £12 plus VAT of £2.40

If you are purchasing a Leasehold Property there are likely to be additional disbursements however, the amounts vary and those specified below are for indicative purposes only.

• Notice of Transfer fee. Generally, between £50 - £250.
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged). Generally, between £50 - £250.
• Deed of Covenant fee, this fee is set by the management company or Landlord for the property. Often it is between £50 - £250.
• Certificate of Compliance fee, this fee is set by the management company or the Landlord for the property and is generally between £50 - £100.
• Fees relating to the transfer of membership in any management company, generally in the region of £100.

The above fees vary from property to property and can on occasion, be significantly more. An accurate figure can be given once we have sight of the specific documents. You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.

Please note: if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 16-24 weeks. In such a situation, additional charges would apply, such as the landlord’s solicitors’ fees.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

This depends on the purchase price of your property and whether you have any other property interests. You can calculate the amount you need to pay by using the HMRC website https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro or, if the property is located in Wales, by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website https://gov.wales/land-transaction-tax-calculator .  Stamp Duty Land Tax legislation can be complex as various reliefs or exemptions could apply and we therefore strongly recommend that you seek advice from a suitably qualified tax adviser.

Timescale

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move into your house will depend on a number of factors, such as the length of the conveyancing chain and whether you are having a mortgage. The average process usually takes between 8-12 weeks but this can vary.

Selling a Freehold or Leasehold Residential Property

Our fees (plus VAT which is currently 20%) cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your property, including dealing with discharge of your mainstream mortgage.

Our fixed fees start from £995 plus VAT (currently 20%) and change depending on the price of the property you are selling. (Please see the table below.) 

In addition to our fees there are likely to be disbursements and there are explained below.

Please note all our fees are based on your matter being a standard transaction which proceeds in a timely matter; and that no unforeseen matters arise, including but not limited to a title defect or the preparation of additional or unforeseen documents; and where the property being sold is leasehold, that it involves the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease or involves a lease extension.

Fee Scale

Our fees are based on the sale price of the property:

Additional Fees

Disbursements

Disbursements applicable on a sale will be Land Registry Fees of £14 for freehold properties and £28 for leasehold properties plus £7 per document required from the Land Registry, in addition to your registered title and plan. If you have a mortgage to be discharged there will be a further money transfer fee of £30 plus VAT of £6. Please also note that mortgage providers may charge a redemption charge or an administration fee to discharge your mortgage.

If you are selling a Leasehold Residential Property, there is likely to be a fee for obtaining a leasehold sale/management pack: generally, between £100 - £500 per pack required.

Electronic Identity Search Fees - £18 plus VAT of £3.60 per person (if based in UK)

Timescale

The length of time required to complete the transaction will depend on a number of factors such as the length of the chain and whether or not your buyer is having a mortgage. The average process usually takes between 8-12 weeks but this can vary.

Remortgages

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the remortgage of your home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to purchase is in Wales.

Fee Scale 

Additional Fees

Disbursements

• HM Land Registry fee: Generally between £14 to £28.
• HM Land Registry registration fee: Average £20.
• Search Fees: Approximately £350 - please note that some search fees are subject to VAT.
• Search Insurance (accepted by some lenders as an alternative to carrying out searches): Approximately £25.
• Electronic money transfer fee: £30 plus VAT of £6.
• Electronic Identity Search Fees - £18 plus VAT of £3.60 per person (if based in UK).

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in property transactions vary according to the circumstances but generally will include:

Freehold purchase

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Carry out searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Complete purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Leasehold Purchase

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Carry out searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Complete purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Freehold Sale

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Obtain title deeds and other appropriate documentation
• Prepare and issue draft contract documentation
• Obtain planning and other documentation if required
• Reply to any necessary enquiries of buyer's solicitor
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Agree completion date (date from which you hand over ownership of the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Obtain a final redemption statement from the mortgage lender
• Complete sale
• Redeem mortgage
• Distribute net proceed of sale

Leasehold Sale

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Obtain title deeds and other appropriate documentation
• Obtain replies to Leasehold Property Enquiries from the Landlord and/or Management Company
• Prepare and issue draft contract documentation
• Obtain planning and other documentation if required
• Reply to any necessary enquiries of buyer's solicitor
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Agree completion date (date from which you hand over ownership of the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Obtain a final redemption statement from the mortgage lender
• Calculate apportionments of ground rent and service charges
• Complete sale
• Redeem mortgage
• Distribute net proceed of sale

Remortgages

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund remortgage and contact lender's solicitors if needed
• Carry out searches or obtain search insurance depending on mortgage lender requirement
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Arrange for you to sign the mortgage deed
• Obtain a final redemption statement from the existing mortgage lender
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from the new mortgage lender and you
• Complete the mortgage
• Redeem any existing mortgage
• Distribute any net proceeds to you
• Deal with application for registration of the new mortgage at Land Registry and discharge of the old mortgage